Discrimination of Biomechanically Possible and Impossible Hand Movements at Birth

Elena Longhi; Irene Senna; Nadia Bolognini; Hermann Bulf; Paolo Tagliabue; Viola Macchi Cassia; Chiara Turati

doi:10.1111/cdev.12329

Discrimination of Biomechanically Possible and Impossible Hand Movements at Birth

Elena Longhi, Irene Senna, Nadia Bolognini, Hermann Bulf, Paolo Tagliabue, Viola Macchi Cassia, Chiara Turati

Fondazione Istituto Auxologico Italiano

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The development of human body perception has long been investigated, but little is known about its early origins. This study focused on how a body part highly relevant to the human species, namely the hand, is perceived a few days after birth. Using a preferential-looking paradigm, 24- to 48-hr-old newborns watched biomechanically possible and impossible dynamic hand gestures (Experiment 1, N = 15) and static hand postures (Experiment 2, N = 15). In Experiment 1, newborns looked longer at the impossible, compared to the possible, hand movement, whereas in Experiment 2 no visual preference emerged. These findings suggest that early in life the representation of the human body may be shaped by sensory-motor experience.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	632-641
Number of pages	10
Journal	Child Development
Volume	86
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12329
Publication status	Published - Mar 1 2015

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Developmental and Educational Psychology
Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
Education
Medicine(all)

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10.1111/cdev.12329

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abstract = "The development of human body perception has long been investigated, but little is known about its early origins. This study focused on how a body part highly relevant to the human species, namely the hand, is perceived a few days after birth. Using a preferential-looking paradigm, 24- to 48-hr-old newborns watched biomechanically possible and impossible dynamic hand gestures (Experiment 1, N = 15) and static hand postures (Experiment 2, N = 15). In Experiment 1, newborns looked longer at the impossible, compared to the possible, hand movement, whereas in Experiment 2 no visual preference emerged. These findings suggest that early in life the representation of the human body may be shaped by sensory-motor experience.",

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AU - Longhi, Elena

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AU - Bulf, Hermann

AU - Tagliabue, Paolo

AU - Macchi Cassia, Viola

AU - Turati, Chiara

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Discrimination of Biomechanically Possible and Impossible Hand Movements at Birth

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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